A NUISANCE biker abandoned his motorbike and fled as police chased a group of yobs riding dangerously on pavements and the wrong way around roundabouts.

Officers from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team responded to a concerned call from a member of the public about a group of bikers who were causing havoc in St Christopher’s Close, Canvey, on Monday.

When officers attended, they tried to catch the bikers and then saw one dump his bike in a dead-end with the engine still running.

The biker then jumped on the back of another bike as a pillion passenger before the gang raced off in a bid to escape.

Officers hope that they are closing the net on the yobs now they have managed to seize the bike, which they have established was also stolen from London.

It will be forensically examined to establish if there are any fingerprints or DNA left behind to identify the culprits.

A total of four stolen bikes, at least two of which have come from London, have been evading officers over recent days while riding chaotically across the island.

Police have said that they have been posing a danger to pedestrians, other road users and themselves.

PC Ian Risden, from the community policing team, said: “The dangerous riding has been appalling.

“They have been riding on pavements and the wrong way round roundabouts.

“We also tried to authorise a pursuit on Thursday but it was denied because it was in the High Street and would have been dangerous to shoppers.

“In this case, we think it is the same pack of riders because they have the same descriptions.

“Four bikes made off from my colleague in St Christopher’s Close and one of them then dropped the bike before running away.”

Ray Howard, councillor for Castle Point and Canvey, has called for Essex Police to use more of their motorcycle resources on Canvey while the problem persists.

He said: “The police have got a very difficult job in catching these motorbikes and it is a big problem on Canvey.

“In my next meeting with the police, I will be requesting whether or not we can have more police motorbikes on Canvey so we can effectively catch these people.

“Police need to bring their resources here when there is a problem.”

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively visit crimestoppers-uk.org